The Questioners are questioned (Mt 21:23-27)

The elders and chief priests questioned the authority of Jesus’ doings. They asked by what and who gives the authority? Jesus throws to them a question back – implying that every question presupposes an answer. He asks: did the baptism of John come from heaven or from men? Jesus implied two realities: the vertical (heaven) and horizontal (men/earth).

The vertical dimension involves a fundamental option for faith, a committed leap to the beyond. This is the reason why (although they knew) they thought – if we say that baptism of John came from heaven, ‘why didn’t you believe?’ – a matter of faith.

They sense the invisible but do not see because the divine is hidden in the human. ‘Every seen aspect is also an unseen aspect at the same time.’ Some theologians express this fact in other words, ‘in revealing He hides. ‘Every revelation is a veiling of the real, every uncovering is also a covering….. Inexhaustible….’ Since they did not understand, Jesus says “neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things. They reason and admit – ‘we do not know.’ Is it an escape mechanism? A sin of pride! The simple truths of the eternal can be learned only in the school of patience, simplicity and humility.